This revamped post-baccalaureate Biotechnology credit Certificate Program (BiotechCP for short) provides students with relevant baccalaureate degrees a broad framework of concepts and practices employed in modern biotechnology and bioscience industries. With close interactions and partnerships between Cal State LA and area biosciences companies, we provide our students a broad industry-responsive curriculum taught by academic and industrial experts. Additionally, we provide extensive hands-on biotechnology laboratory skills training (see sample videos: video 1 and video 2), dedicated advisement faculty/staff and a focused summer industry internship at the end of the first year. All of these are designed to prepare and facilitate our students for employment and career advancement in the biotechnology/bioscience industries. Courses taken to fulfill certificate requirements may also be applied toward the Master of Science degree in Biology. Students must begin the certificate program only during the fall term of an academic year. For Fall 2023 entry, completed applications must be submitted via Cal State Apply no later than April 15, 2024.
BiotechCP Overview (effective from Fall 2023)
This post-baccalaureate credit certificate program provides students with relevant baccalaureate degrees a broad framework of concepts and practices employed in modern biotechnology industries. With close interactions and partnerships between Cal State LA and local biotechnology companies, students of this program will experience a broad industry-responsive curriculum taught by academic and industrial experts, extensive hands-on biotechnology laboratory skills training, and a focused summer biotechnology industry internship at the end of the academic year. All of these are designed to prepare and facilitate our students for employment and career advancement in the biotechnology sector. Courses taken to fulfill certificate requirements may also be applied toward the Master of Science degree in biology. The program has been approved as a Gainful Employment Program by the Department of Education. This means that eligible students can apply for Federal Financial Aid to support them during the year that they are in the program.
The certificate program requires completion of a minimum of 18 units, taken in postbaccalaureate or graduate standing, of which 12 are in required courses and 6 units or more are in elective course. Refer to General Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Studies for general information governing all certificate programs.
Admission to the Program:
Application submitted via Cal State Apply (including materials for the Department of Biological Sciences and the University) is required. Acceptance by the University to post-baccalaureate status; Baccalaureate degree in a biological or related sciences, such as biochemistry, biology, physics, medical technology, or microbiology, which is equivalent to the Bachelor of Science degree offered at Cal State LA. Undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 in last 90-quarter or 60-semester units attempted; Completion with a B (3.0) grade or higher, in any one of the following upper level undergraduate courses or their equivalents:
- Cell Biology (e.g., BIOL 3400 - Cell Biology and Genetics)
- General Genetics (e.g., BIOL 3400 – Cell Biology and Genetics)
- Microbial Genetics (e.g., MICR 3300 - Microbial Genetics)
- Biochemistry (e.g., CHEM 4310 - Biochemistry I)
Career Placement Metrics:
We are pleased to report that for Cohorts 1-5, 80% of program participants achieved their next career goals of either an advanced or graduate program acceptance or gainful employment. The employers for some of our students include: Amgen, Grifols, Prolacta Biosciences, Jarrow Formulas, Inc., DxTerity, BioEclipse Therapeutics, Armata Pharmaceuticals, NantKwest, Fulgent Genetics, UCLA, Caltech, USC, Cal Poly Pomona, and Cal State LA.
For more information, please contact
Dr. Howard Xu
Professor of Microbiology
Director, Post-bac Certificate Program in Biotechnology
Director, Incubator Development and Programming
Phone: (323) 343-2188
Email: [email protected]
Office: Annenberg Science Complex La Kretz Hall (ASCL) 356
Lab: Annenberg Science Complex La Kretz Hall room 337 (ASCL-337)
Mailing address: Dept. of Biological Sciences, BS-143
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90032
Requirements for the Certificate (minimum 18 units)
Required Core (12 units)
- BIOL 4170 - Gene Editing Theory and Applications (3)
- BIOL 4450 – Bioscience Companies: From Concept to Market (3)
- BIOL 4460 – Biotechnology Applications of Cell and Molecular Biology (3)
- BIOL 5950 – Biotechnology Internship (1-3; complete 1 unit minimum)
And complete a total of 2 units from the following courses
- BIOL 5100 – Seminar: Biology (1)
- CHEM 4820 - Biomedical Seminars and Presentations (1)
Electives (minimum 6 units)
In consultation with the program advisor, select a minimum of 6 units of electives from the list of courses from the university catalog 2023-2024.
Note: Additional relevant elective courses may be taken with approval of program director.
For more information, please contact
Dr. Howard Xu
Professor of Microbiology
Director, Post-bac Certificate Program in Biotechnology
Director, Incubator Development and Programming
Phone: (323) 343-2188
Email: [email protected]
Office: Annenberg Science Complex La Kretz Hall (ASCL) 356
Lab: Annenberg Science Complex La Kretz Hall room 337 (ASCL-337)
Mailing address: Dept. of Biological Sciences, BS-143
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90032
Summer Internships at Local Bioscence Companies
According to eventual career tracks, students will be placed in summer internships at bioscience partner companies. These companies and organizations include:
Grifols Biologicals (Los Angeles, CA)
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (La Vern, CA)
Molecular Express, Inc. (Rancho Dominguez, CA)
Synova Life Sciences (Pasadena, CA)
Pace Diagnostics (Pasadena, CA)
Verrix, LLC (Pasadena, CA)
The Lundquist Institute (Torrance, CA)
Protomer Technologies (Pasadena, CA)
Poseidon Laboratory (Pasadena, CA)
Nuanced Health (Los Angeles, CA)
BioEclipse Therapeutics (Mountain View, CA)
Biocom California Institute (San Diego, CA)
For more information, please contact
Dr. Howard Xu
Professor of Microbiology
Director, Post-bac Certificate Program in Biotechnology
Director, Incubator Development and Programming
Phone: (323) 343-2188
Email: [email protected]
Office: Annenberg Science Complex La Kretz Hall (ASCL) 356
Lab: Annenberg Science Complex La Kretz Hall room 337 (ASCL-337)
Mailing address: Dept. of Biological Sciences, BS-143
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90032
PEER MENTORS
We have established a network of bioscience industrial professionals who are either alumni of our academic programs or colleagues with a common commitment to elevate the bioscience industry in the Los Angeles region. These professionals will serve as one-on-one peer mentors to our students to provide career advancement advice. The peer mentors are currently working in the following bioscience companies:
Grifols Biologicals
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Amgen
Beckman/Coulter
Johnson & Johnson
HBT Labs
BioMarin
Extron Electronic
Integrated Diagnostics
For more information, please contact
Dr. Howard Xu
Professor of Microbiology
Director, Post-bac Certificate Program in Biotechnology
Director, Incubator Development and Programming
Phone: (323) 343-2188
Email: [email protected]
Office: Annenberg Science Complex La Kretz Hall (ASCL) 356
Lab: Annenberg Science Complex La Kretz Hall room 337 (ASCL-337)
Mailing address: Dept. of Biological Sciences, BS-143
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90032